LAS CRUCES – The Paul Weir era got started the right way for New Mexico State.

The Aggies opened the 2016-17 season with a 100-52 rout of NAIA Arizona Christian Friday night at the Pan American Center.

As well as Weir making his head-coaching debut, NMSU (1-0) showed off its new up-tempo offense for the first time Friday night. The Aggies got seven in double figures, which the first time that Aggies have had that many in double figures since NMSU had six in double figures against Oral Roberts in the 2014-15 season, and the Aggies scored 100 points in a game for the first time since a 115-73 win over Hawaii during the 2011-12 season.

With the loss of Pascal Siakam, the Aggies expect to have more players contribute on the offensive end this season instead of two of three like last year.

“We’re looking for everyone to contribute the way they did tonight,” said NMSU senior guard Ian Baker, who scored 12 points on 2 of 10 shooting with six rebounds. “We feel like that will help us in the long run. As opposed to having two or three contributions, we can get 10 guys contributing. Me personally, I didn’t shoot so good tonight. But I am proud of the way we played as a team.”

Sidy N’Dir led the Aggies with 14 points while Eli Chuha and Matt Taylor each scored 13 points and Braxton Huggins and Jalyn Pennie each had 12 points. Marlon Jones had 10 points in his NMSU debut. Chuha and Pennie both set new career highs with 12 and 11 rebounds respectively for double-doubles.

N’Dir tied his career-high for points for the redshirt sophomore, scoring 14 for the third time his career and Taylor's 13 points is also a new career high for the redshirt junior, who also brought down seven rebounds.

Weir said he likes the way the offense is coming together a little bit, but that they’re turning the ball over too much. NMSU had 15 turnovers Friday night.

“I, ironically, started a lineup that I thought was going to be our best non-turnover lineup and they turned it over to start the game twice,” Weir said. “I’m really open to starting different guys and doing different things for defense or offense. But I think collectively overall, we did what we wanted to do offensively tonight. We have a long way to go. But as a step one, it wasn’t bad.”

Defense has been a staple for the Aggies the past few seasons as it was ranked in the top 10 in the nation last season. NMSU’s defense was solid, forcing 14 ACU (1-2) turnovers in the first half and scoring 27 points off those turnovers. The Aggies held the Firestorm to just 33 percent from the floor in the first half (9 of 27) and 3 of 14 from three, which was a focus for NMSU as ACU likes the 3-point shot. The Aggies forced 22 turnovers on the night and held ACU to a 28.8 percent (17 of 59) shooting percentage and 7 of 33 from three.

NMSU led 45-25 at halftime. The Aggies dominated the glass, outrebounding the Firestorm 53-31 with 23 offensive boards. NMSU was also 19 of 25 (76 percent) from the free throw line.

Going about 10 to 11 deep is something NMSU wants to do this season and the Aggies showed that in the opener, playing 10 different players in the opening half with nine of those scoring in the first half.

“I think last year when we played (ACU), Pascal had 28 (points) and 10 (rebounds),” Weir said. “We talked it about it before the game and talked about it after the game, this is who we are. We’re not necessarily coming at you with the way we have gone in the past. I gave them the (scoring) numbers after the game … that’s how we got to 100. It wasn’t someone had 40 and a bunch of twos. I think we just have to continue to buy into a team culture and or team oriented philosophy.”

With the exception of Tanveer Bhullar and Joe Garza, all dressed players played in the first half for the Aggies and every dressed player, except for Bhullar, played on Friday night. Weir said Bhullar did not play because he has not met physical requirements that are in place. The Aggies were also without Jermaine Haley and Bollo Gnahore, who are both out with injuries.

NMSU, who is at Colorado State on Sunday, shot 49 percent (36 of 73) from the floor and 9 of 23 from three.

“We’re still adjusting and we had quite a few turnovers tonight,” Baker said. “But it is all part of the process. Hopefully next game we can take care of the ball better. We’re still more comfortable with the offense.”